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Proof Of Miracles

For those without the interest or the patience for that painfully subtle little film, here’s the skinny:

Congratulations Tufters, Tacey, and I suppose, Beth. After a tough Season and the loss of three itty-bitties, it looks like the Tace-ters family has decided to postpone their annual trip to the Bahamas and give it one more go on LBI. It’s a miraculous occurrence. It’s a re-nest. And it’s official. Cheers!

And for those of you hoping the whole PIPL chapter was over and we’d get back to water-temps and such… well… it looks like you’ll have to hang in there for just a little while longer.

Thanks for keeping us informed. I finally got up to the north end today. (Wouldn’t necessarily recommend the drive on a holiday.) Saw Tacey sitting on her nest. It’s amazing how camouflaged they are! I photographed the exclosure without seeing her in the bright sun. I didn’t even know she was there until I looked at the pictures! I finally found Tufters hanging out with some black backed gulls. Saw the oystercatchers, too. It’s like seeing celebrities, thanks to you. 🙂

Awesome! Makes me think I should do a post about finding them if/when one visits! One of the pair will always be on the nest unless something really awful is going on, and they switch off duty about once per hour. Bright sun is the absolute hardest to see them in their near perfect camo. I am guessing you did not find Beth. She is known to hide out in bright sun, but I’m curious how you ID’d them as Tufters and Tacey instead of Tacey & Tufters (now that their flags are gone!)…. and also how you are sure you did not see Beth! Beth has just turned into a plump, full grown bird. If you are unsure, the black ring band on the neck in your photos will tell you all: Tufters is complete black around the neck/chest, Tacey’s is lighter and has a gap in the front, and Beth does not have any black neck/head feathers at all!

So cool you visited them, albeit on the most awful traffic day of the year to do so!

You got me! I really did not have time to analyze the photos, I just needed to call them something. I told her/ him (s)he was doing a good job taking care of the egg. (Is it still one?) It might very well have been Tufters on the nest, and Beth with the gulls. I’ll have to ID them later, although my camera is nothing like yours, and I had trouble holding it still in the wind. I finally had to get down on my belly in the damp sand, but whoever it was by the gulls posed for me before running away on those tiny little legs. And to think, I used to drive up there just to climb the lighthouse!

I really appreciate your blogs. I have been out to LBI and have watched and photographed the piping plover family…..Tufters, Tacey and the Itty Bitties. It takes me nearly an hour to drive to LBI, and I can’t get out too often with the summer traffic. I’m always happy to see your photos and read about this little family. Thanks for sharing them with us. Your writings are wonderful!! 🙂